Failed blood test 😢…any helpful hints for next time?

[theresnoonequitelikegrandma]

I have tiny veins and am very anxious about needles so was already apprehensive this morning but I have an issue that requires investigation so I was trying to be brave. Unfortunately the nurse got the needle in (painfully!) but couldn’t get any blood out.

She’s re-booked with the specialist nurse (‘The Vampire’) for the same time next week but now I’m twice as anxious so I really need your best tips for making the next appointment successful please!!

TIA

I also have terrible veins in the inside of my elbow. They are always VERY reluctant to try from the ones in the back of my hand because apparently it hurts too much (even though they're that prominent even I could probably get a needle into them!). The time I finally convinced them to try my hand she hit it first time and it was a hell of a lot less painful then her poking around with a needle and failing several times!

Most practices have a nurse that is able to take blood where others fail, whilst in the waiting room I glinch my fist and hold my inner elbow to get my veins moving as I always have a problem with needles, I do look away and it’s best to tell them if your fear, I would rather not know when the needle is going in.

If they really struggle they can use an ultrasound machine to find the veins. That specialist nurse might have one. I'd say don't look at the injection site, maybe shut your eyes and just think about something relaxing.

Will drinking water help? My elderly Dad is in hospital and has this issue and they keep making him drink!

@Navigatinglife100 yes, drinking water is supposed to help and exercising. However, I drink 3 litres a day and walk to the surgery and they still can't find mine!

Drink plenty of water and keep warm.

Can you get the form and go to phlebotomy at the hospital. They are the experts.

keep your arms as warm as possible until seconds before, drink lots of water in the couple of hours before, take a couple of ibuprofen the hour before and when they are doing the needle bit put headphones on and listen to some energizing music that you like to get up and dance to

This happened to me recently.The hospital was busy and the Nurse was called away to help me.However she couldnt find it .Next day due a BT at GP .so the Phlebotamist got 2 lots no trouble! My friend said to drink plenty of water (about 2 pints!) before hand and this worked for me .I think its a common problem TBH

I agree with trying to get it done by a phlebotomist if possible. I have always had trouble, to the extent that eventually the Blood Transfusion Service suggested it may be sensible to no longer be a blood donor (long time ago). I also second being well hydrated and warm. Best of luck.

Drink loads of water and run around a bit beforehand.

Emla cream also helps if the fiddling around makes you queasy like it does me!

Ask to have the first appointment of the day, so there no waiting around. Remind them the day before, so they have everything ready. Then you can literally walk in, have bloods done, and walk straight out again. No waiting around. We do this for a needle phobic patient where I work.

Drink lots before the appointment and try to clench and unclench your fist on that side whilst you are in the waiting room.

Try numbing cream in the areas you think they're going to try, you can buy this from a chemist.

Drink a lot of water earlier in the day, and warm up your arm as much as you can.

Did she use a butterfly?

Phlebotomists are excellent and experts at taking blood. It will be a much less stressful experience next time. Ask to lie down and start drinking lots of water from a couple of days before the blood test.

Definitely drink loads and keep warm, they should be able to find a vein and get blood out if they use a small enough cannula.

Drinks lots of water beforehand. I too have small veins and when having chemo, only one nurse could get me hooked up to an IV - and that was with drinking lots of water AND putting my whole arm in a bucket of warm water for 10 min before each attempt each time!!! Any chance you can take a bucket of warm water with you 😂??

The GP surgeries always struggle to get mine.

The blood donation teams always manage fine. They do it as their job, so practise definitely helps.

Drink plenty of water, make sure you're warm enough and hopefully the other staff member will be successful.

I came to say the same thing. And stay hydrated. I find a later day appointment helps as I’ve had time to get hydrated and eaten. Where as early appointment it seems my blood is still waking up and a bit sluggish

Sometimes phlebotomists have had me hold my arm under the hot tap in their room for a couple of minutes and it seems to help - I think they always managed to get blood out of me after that! Also what everyone else is saying - staying hydrated, sometimes getting it from the hand is easier...

Thank you for all your suggestions (and the fact that nobody told me to ‘woman up and not be a wimp!’). According to the notes in my NHS app, the lady I saw was actually the Practice Phlebotomist but I still have faith that the next time will be successful! Thank you all x

I refuse to give up my blood, the NHS must groan when I appear. I now automatically get referred to the hospital if I need bloods drawn.

Once, they ended up drawing from between my toes, not fun!!

My advice is lots of water, no caffeine and make sure you are warm!

Water works for me. I only learned it made a difference a couple of years back after decades of struggles.

Except when I am having surgery and am nil by mouth 😭